Cash was known for his deep, calm bass-baritone voice, the distinctive sound of his Tennessee Three backing band characterized by train-sound guitar rhythms, a rebelliousness coupled with an increasingly somber and humble demeanor, free prison concerts, and a trademark, all-black stage wardrobe, which earned him the nickname "The Man in Black." He traditionally began his concerts by simply introducing himself, "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash," followed by his signature song "Folsom Prison Blues".
Much of Cash's music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially in the later stages of his career. His other signature songs include "I Walk the Line", "Ring of Fire", "Get Rhythm", and "Man in Black". He also recorded humorous numbers like "One Piece at a Time" and "A Boy Named Sue"; a duet with his future wife, June Carter, called "Jackson" (followed by many further duets after their wedding); and railroad songs including "Hey, Porter", "Orange Blossom Special", and "Rock Island Line". During the last stage of his career, Cash covered songs by several late 20th-century rock artists, notably "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails and "Rusty Cage" by Soundgarden.
Johnny Cash was born on February 26, 1932, in Kingsland, Arkansas, to Ray Cash and Carrie Cloveree (née Rivers). He was the fourth of seven children, who were in birth order: Roy, Margaret Louise, Jack, J. R., Reba, Joanne, and Tommy (who also became a successful country artist). He was primarily of English and Scottish descent. As an adult he traced his surname to 11th-century Fife, after meeting with the then-laird of Falkland, Major Michael Crichton-Stuart. Cash Loch and other locations in Fife bear the name of his family.
At birth, Cash was named J. R. Cash. When Cash enlisted in the United States Air Force, he was not permitted to use initials as a first name, so he changed his name to John R. Cash. In 1955, when signing with Sun Records, he started going by Johnny Cash.
In March 1935, when Cash was three years old, the family settled in Dyess, Arkansas, a New Deal colony established to give poor families a chance to work land that they had a chance to own as a result. Cash started working in cotton fields at the age of five, singing along with his family while working. The Cash farm experienced a flood during the family's time in Dyess, which led Cash later to write the song "Five Feet High and Rising". His family's economic and personal struggles during the Great Depression inspired many of his songs, especially those about other people facing similar difficulties. Consequently, Cash had sympathy for the poor and working class throughout his life.
Cash was very close to his older brother, Jack. On Saturday May 12, 1944, Jack was pulled into an unguarded table saw at his high school while cutting oak into fence posts as his job and was almost cut in two. He lingered until the following Saturday, when he died. Cash often spoke of the horrible guilt he felt over this incident; according to Cash: The Autobiography, his father was away that morning, but Johnny, his mother, and even Jack himself, all had premonitions or a sense of foreboding about that day. His mother urged Jack to skip work and go fishing with his brother, but Jack insisted on working since the family needed the money at the time. On his deathbed, Jack said he had visions of Heaven and angels. Decades later, Cash spoke of looking forward to meeting his brother in Heaven.
Cash's early memories were dominated by gospel music and radio. Taught guitar by his mother and a childhood friend, Cash began playing and writing songs at the age of 12. When young, Cash had a high-tenor voice, before becoming a bass-baritone after his voice changed.
In high school, he sang on a local radio station. Decades later, he released an album of traditional gospel songs, called My Mother's Hymn Book. He was also significantly influenced by traditional Irish music, which he heard performed weekly by Dennis Day on the Jack Benny radio program.
In 1997, Cash was diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disease Shy–Drager syndrome, a form of multiple system atrophy. According to biographer Robert Hilburn, the disease was originally misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease, and Cash even announced to his audience that he had Parkinson's after nearly collapsing on stage in Flint, Michigan, on October 25, 1997. Soon afterwards, his diagnosis was changed to Shy–Drager, and Cash was told he had about 18 months to live. The diagnosis was later again altered to autonomic neuropathy associated with diabetes. The illness forced Cash to curtail his touring. He was hospitalized in 1998 with severe pneumonia, which damaged his lungs.
During the last stage of his career, Cash released the albums American III: Solitary Man (2000) and American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002). American IV included cover songs by several late 20th-century rock artists, notably "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails and "Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode. Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails commented that he was initially skeptical about Cash's plan to cover "Hurt", but was later impressed and moved by the rendition. The video for "Hurt" received critical and popular acclaim, including a Grammy Award.
June Carter Cash died on May 15, 2003, at the age of 73. June had told Cash to keep working, so he continued to record, completing 60 more songs in the last four months of his life, and even performed a few surprise shows at the Carter Family Fold outside Bristol, Virginia. At the July 5, 2003, concert (his last public performance), before singing "Ring of Fire", Cash read a statement about his late wife that he had written shortly before taking the stage:
"The spirit of June Carter overshadows me tonight with the love she had for me and the love I have for her. We connect somewhere between here and Heaven. She came down for a short visit, I guess, from Heaven to visit with me tonight to give me courage and inspiration like she always has. She's never been one for me except courage and inspiration. I thank God for June Carter. I love her with all my heart. "
Cash continued to record until shortly before his death. His final recordings were made on August 21, 2003, and consisted of "Like the 309", which appeared on American V: A Hundred Highways in 2006, and the final song he completed, "Engine 143", which was recorded for his son John Carter Cash for a planned Carter Family tribute album.
Silent Night Holy Night
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
'Round young virgin mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
All is dark save the light
See the Eastern wise men
Bring gifts and homage to our King
Christ, the Savior is born
Jesus, the Savior is born
Silent night
(Holy night)
All is calm, all is bright
Poorest dreams from heaven
Afar heavenly host sing Hallelujah
(Christ, the Savior is born)
(Jesus, the Savior is born)
Silent night, holy night
Wondrous dark lend Thy light
With the angels let us sing
Hallelujah, hail the King
Christ, the Savior is born
Jesus, the Savior is born
In Johnny Cash's rendition of "Silent Night Holy Night," the lyrics depict the peaceful and awe-inspiring scene of the birth of Jesus Christ. The first verse highlights the calm and bright atmosphere that surrounds Mary and her newborn child. The second verse pays tribute to the wise men from the East who bring gifts to the newly born savior. The final verse emphasizes the wondrous dark and the heavenly host's singing in Hallelujah for the King's birth.
Each verse is a reflection of the familiar Christian narrative, but Cash's gentle and soothing voice gives it a unique blend of comfort and tenderness. The song's overall message is about the birth of a hope that brings salvation and joy to the world. The lyrics beautifully articulate the sense of hope and peacefulness associated with Christmas, through the depiction of the humble nativity scene.
Interesting Facts:
Line by Line Meaning
Silent night, holy night
A night of peaceful solemnity, holy and sacred
All is calm, all is bright
Everything is tranquil and illuminated with a sense of hope
'Round young virgin mother and child
Mary, a young and pure mother, cradles her newborn son, Jesus
Holy infant so tender and mild
Jesus, the holy newborn, is gentle and serene
Sleep in heavenly peace
May Jesus rest peacefully in heaven
Silent night, holy night
This is a night of peace and sanctity
All is dark save the light
Except for the shining light of Jesus' birth, everything is dark
See the Eastern wise men
Observe the wise men who came from the East
Bring gifts and homage to our King
They bring presents and worship to the newborn King, Jesus
Christ, the Savior is born
Jesus, born on this holy night, is the Messiah who saves humanity
Jesus, the Savior is born
Jesus is born, and he is here to save us all
Silent night
This is a serene and calm night
(Holy night)
A night of holiness and divinity
All is calm, all is bright
The scene is tranquil, illuminated and hopeful
Poorest dreams from heaven
The humblest of dreams from heaven are realized
Afar heavenly host sing Hallelujah
In the distance, the celestial choir sings Hallelujah
(Christ, the Savior is born)
Jesus is born, the savior of humanity
(Jesus, the Savior is born)
Jesus is born and will save us
Silent night, holy night
This is truly a peaceful and divine night
Wondrous dark lend Thy light
The mysteries of the dark give way to the light of the holy presence
With the angels let us sing
Everyone is joining in song with the angels
Hallelujah, hail the King
Everyone sings Hallelujah in honor of the newborn King
Christ, the Savior is born
Jesus is born, and he is the savior of humanity
Jesus, the Savior is born
Jesus is born, and he will bring salvation to all of us
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Franz Xaver Gruber, Joseph Mohr
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anonymous
on Wayfaring Stranger
Wayfaring Stranger - The New Appalachians - Lyrics
I am a poor wayfaring stranger
Traveling through this world alone
There will be no sickness, toil or danger
In that grand land to which I roam
Well I'm going home to see my mother
I'm going home to a morning rose
I'm only goin' over Jordan
I'm only goin' over home
Musical Interlude
I know dark clouds will gather 'round me
I know my way is rough and steep
And beautiful fields lie just before me
Where God's redeemed there vigils keep
Well I'm going home to see my brothers
I'm going home no more to roam
I'm only goin' over Jordan
I'm only goin' over home
Musical Interlude
I'm going home to see my Father
I'm going home no more to roam
I'm only goin' over Jordan
I’m only goin’ where no one roams
I want to wear that crown of glory
When I get to that good land
I want to shout out salvation story
In concert with that blood washed band.
I'm going there to see my saviour
I’ll see his face no more to roam
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home
I'm only goin' over home